ROLEPLAY HQ - eye-of-the-west

The west is hot as hell, it always is. Especially when there’s barely enough AC left from the generators chugging down gas to stay alive. Only the fancy places have it too, and summer was one of the seasons it wasn’t best to be in, but then what else could you do when the city a couple hundred miles is swamped with creatures that bite and make you something you never dreamed of being?… In the bad way of course. This was like any day, posters of some good and some poorly taken photos of “Shoot for Some Loot!” Posters that lined up the board of the local saloon. The bigger the vermin, the higher the price for it. Some went into thousands, and they were lucky to have a second city to spend it in. And today was like any other. Running slow, bar flys gone, hot summer sun beating. There was a clunk of heavy boots along the wooden porch, the jingle of metal brushing up and down as she pushed open the door to the saloon. Bless the sun, bless summer, but winter was her favorite. She took the black satin cowboy hat from her head, frizzy ginger hair appearing as she stepped inside of the saloon, keeping the hat by her side as she took a seat at the counter. She then set the cap on her lap while undoing the black bandana from the lower half of her face before she spoke to the bar maid. “Whiskey, please. Lime if you got any.” She mumbled, southern drawl sliding words off the tongue. @Cecil

Seated in the corner of the bar was a large man, with a tannish-green hood over a dull red shirt. He carried no visible weapons, but clearly had the appearance of a rougher, wilder man. The man seemed to keep to himself more, a dented metal flask in his hand.. Some non-descript meal of meat in front of him.. Turning his head to the door, he saw what looked to be a woman, at least.. You never knew anymore. Some people could change their appearances, or so the stories said. So he'd just have to watch her and make sure she wouldn't cause any problems. @Kars

The barmaid turned back and poured her the usual cup of whiskey she ordered, squeezing a small wedge of lime into the Smokey liquor before sliding it over. She seems a bit of an odd one, being she sips the drink without mixing it before watching the thermal colors in her left eye. She pauses, glancing over as her supposedly blind eye looks him over. “Somethin’ wrong there, friend?” She questioned, continuing to sip the whiskey and keep the cowboy hat and bandana seated on her lap. She’s not that tall, maybe around 5”8 and in a black trench coat in the middle of summer heat. She seems unfazed though, as if it is a somewhat normal occurrence to be stared at. She again takes a small sip of the Smokey substance and then actually swirls the glass around to mix the odd flavoring. @Cecil

"Not especially." He replied in a gruff tone, his attention returning to that flask. "Just making sure you're not gonna be a pain, like a lotta people who roll through these parts." People had a tendency to get in his way, dammit, all the damned time. Those people had a tendency to get themselves killed. By his hand. Because they don't understand that they needed to let him do his thing out in the field. No, he didn't feel guilty about it, it was their own damn fault. He was more annoyed than anything, really. @Kars

“If I was somethin’ close to a threat, you would’ve known by now.” She replied, southern drawl smooth as she took another small sip of her weird mixture before placing it back down onto the counter. She glances over at him again, and noticing a bit of an odd body temperature she does keep herself on alert. Sure, she can’t say she’s all human being and other, though that body heat is giving her red flags. He’s not exactly hostile, but she assumes something is up. “Though it doesn’t surprise me if most give you trouble. A normal thing round’ here.” @Cecil

"Just because you don't look like a threat doesn't mean you don't carry something dangerous underneath." He knew how people were nowadays- Hell, he knew how he was nowadays. People could very easily be dangerous without making it obvious. Taking another drink from his flask, he looked her over again. "'Course most people give me trouble. Everyone's always looking for a bigger foe to get paid from. Not my fault if they get in my way while I'm doing the same." @Kars

“Seems they perceive you as some sort of threat then. I’d be surprised if you lookin’ like a foe. They’re usually a good wuss or two unless they’ve got some liquor in em’. But trust me a bit then, I ain’t no threat. Just here enjoyin’ my drink.” Mariam though she wouldn’t admit that to this man was keeping an eye on him aswell. The body heat had her alarmed as all hell, more so that he was acting way too human to be a mutant like she was reading. She shuffled in her seat and drank the rest of her drink before sliding it back to the barmaid. “Another please, darlin’.” She watches the barmaid make the drink and she turns to the man again. “..They’ll get a new one soon.” Is all she says before withdrawing her revolver and firing three shots into the barmaid. The blood comes out isn’t red, but a sickening green staining the glasses as she drops to the floor. @Cecil

"I'm not surprised they think i'm some damn threat- Because I am, if you get in my way." He mumbled, taking another sip. She said she wasn't a threat, but he'd been out here long enough to see the body language- She was here to kill someone, but it wasn't him. When she ordered another drink, he noticed the subtle flick of her wrist to the revolver on her side, and that's when he knew someone was about to die. He didn't even flinch as she drew it and put three shots into the barmaid without even looking, just taking another drink out of his flask. "So you can tell who's a mutant, even if they don't have a high bounty, then." @Kars

"..Bingo." She says, hesitating after a moment before adjusting herself and watching as the blood started to move. It slithered toward another, regrouping with one self as the barmaid slowly rose from the floor. Mariam grabbed her bandana and her hat, stuffing the bandana in her trenchcoat pocket and the hat on her head. "I suggest you move big fella!" She says, watching as the barmaid began oddly enough expanding. She was twisting in not human ways, turning and bending and making the sounds of bones cracking like snaps of the fingers. Mariam stepped back, reloading her revolver. "Also, about you questionin' my methods earlier.. Takes one to know one." @Cecil

As the barmaid began to transform, Rylan let out a harsh sigh and stood up slowly, his left arm beginning to darken. "Shoulda known you'd cause trouble almost immediately.." Tendrils began to form along his arm, transforming it into a decent-sized shield. He looked to the barmaid- Or what was once a barmaid- "You attack me, and i'm tearing you to shreds. Simple as that." He spat, his demeanor shifting drasticly. This was such a pain.. @Kars

The barmaid only turned and let out a near defeaning shriek of rage as she tried to leap over the counter. By now she’s larger, big clawed hands scratching the wood counter as she tried to scramble over. Mariam is quick to fire shots, hand on the back once she was able to reload and firing a decent shot or two while the rest landed somewhere other. The barmaid howls in pain, snarling viciously before charging at Mariam. She’s quick to move, rolling so now the beast of what use to be a barmaid is charging right at Rylan. @Cecil

He let out a harsh shield, putting the flask into his pocket before waiting for the beast to get close enough, allowing it to slam into his shield. When it collided, he used its momentum to lift it over his head, slamming it onto the ground. His other arm transformed into a large blade, which he stabbed into the monster's side repeatedly. "I. Fucking. Told. You. To. Leave. Me. Alone." Each word was punctuated by a heavily stab, Rylan visibly pissed off as a result of his drink being interrupted. @Kars

The mutant screamed all the way, long skinny arms that reached and tried to stop the blade or shield were proven futile as the green essence stained the wooden floorboards. Mariam watched momentarily, only before kicking off her boots and springing into action. In the midst of the mutant being distracted though swinging all the way she climbed up on the mutant, hanging for dear life before getting her hands underneath the jaw. With that, she pulled. It took a while before she succeeded, though she did when the mutant's head detached and came off. She landed on the floor mostly on her back with a grunt, holding the mutant's head as the transforming body collapsed to the floor. "..Ain't bad, no?" @Cecil

When Mariam jumped to the mutant, she nearly got the blade in her side, but Rylan let it absorb back into his arm, turning away from her as fell to the ground, mutant's head in her hands. "It's stupid to jump in the middle of a fight like that. Especially one with me in the middle, you dumb bitch." He answered, clearly still agitated. Using his powers had a tendency to make him very pissed off, and it showed. Looking down at the mess she caused, he sighed. "Now I can't enjoy a drink in peace, dammit.." @Kars

"..I would assume it would be more pleasant to not have half the bar's guts around the damn place, big fella. I think I rather be stuck with guts of a bastard than anythin." She says, resisting the urge to tell him some old Southern disrespectful speaking. She looked at the mutant and then at the board. She walked up one with the same place, yanking it down. "..I'd fix the attitude if you'd like half the coin, big fella." @Cecil

"I'm assuming you're a mutant, given the fact you can tell when others are mutants. You should know that it's not as simple as 'fix the attitude' after someone uses their mutant powers. It's naturally harder to control emotions when I use my powers." Pulling out the flask, he took another long swig out of it. "..Whatever, fine. You goin' to turn that in?" @Kars

“I ain’t no dummy, you caught me, but it looks like by your cold blood it’s your thing too. I didn’t shoot ya’ because you actually act normal.” She said, taking a moment to examine the wanted poster that she had taken down off of the wall and examining the contents. A good price, one that could be split evenly, and it was just down the town area. She knew where it was, “Though I’d be careful when you say it out loud. Not many people in the bar with good hearin’, but I rather not get chased by an angry mob. Glad to see I ain’t the only one who’s gotten a bit of those bastards. The price is good. 2,000. One thousand for you and one for me. House down the lot.” @Cecil

"No shit, the guy who turned his arm into a giant fucking blade is a mutant.." Rylan mumbled under his breath. "And of course I act normal. I'm not a mindless fucking monster like most mutants." The agitation from using his powers was starting to wane, but that didn't change the fact that Rylan wasn't a very friendly person. "Let them come after me if they want." He spat. "They can't do shit to me." Whether it was cockiness or a lack of caring of his own fate, Rylan seemed confident, at least. He turned toward the door and started walking. "Come on, then." @Kars

Mariam rolled her eyes, turning and following with. The August heat was still blaring outside as she put her hat on, cursing to herself in her old western accent as they made their way down to the old shabby house. It looks abandoned, but most houses did nowadays. She cracked her knuckles, seeming in a calm and happy mood as they made their way. She looked over. "You seem to have a lot of that good ol' confidence, I wouldn't get cocky with it. Just cause we only half human don't mean we're protected from angry lil' bastards." She said, tipping her hat lower and fixing the bandana around her face. @Cecil

His hood gave him plenty of shade to hide him from the heat, so he didn't seem all that bothered by it. Plus, he had been in this area for so long that his body had adapted to the heat. While the two of them walked, Rylan kept his hands in his pockets and his eyes forward, having only passing interest in the woman in front of him. She knew how to fight, but so did he, and he had powers to help with that. She had no obvious ones. "I've had people come after me before. They're dead now." He replied bluntly. @Kars

"Seems you know to work yer way around the parts then. Good to know. But I can tell you these folks gettin' a little too cautious and worried. Got somethin' about a revolt against mutants down by the bay. If you've been here long nough', they're crazy. But crazy enough to do somethin." She said, looking over and shuffling some coins out of her pocket. They pass by a market and she takes an apple, flicking one of the coins to the lady who catches it before taking a bite as they continued walking. "Even if we protect em' in any other way. As long as yer blood runs cold, you'll be cold to them. Simple." @Cecil

He understood that all too well. That was one of the major reasons why he really kept to himself, that and his mutant abilities made him extremely irritable. "People hate us 'cause we're different. Simple as that." The man didn't seem too bothered by it, since that's just how things were. "I don't really care, either way. If they drive me out, I'll go somewhere else. They won't be able to kill me, that's for sure. What about you?" @Kars

"Mmm. Not sure. Bein' honest. This place is the only one that's closest to the family I got left. No way in hell's green ground I'm livin' with them though. And different is an understatement, big fella. We're monsters. Survival of the fittest." She said through a mouthful of her apple before chewing, swallowing, and then taking another bite. "..They won't kill me. If anythin', I'd be killin' myself if I fought a whole mob.. Say, you got a name at all? Or they just call you big fella?" She asked, looking over as she chewed on her apple. @Cecil

He scoffed at the idea of 'family'. Nobody knew him, and he didn't know anybody. The concept of family was overrated. Monsters, though? Yes. They were monsters. He was absolutely a monster. "The name's Rylan." He replied, his eyes elsewhere. Why the hell would this woman give a shit about his name? Not like he was planning on sticking around longer than he had to. "You?" @Kars

"..Mariam Sofron." She said after a short while, taking another bite of the apple. She with ease takes her thumbs and splits the apple apart, her part bitten and the other half not used. She offered him the apple. "Rylan. Can't believe you got that name. I thought yer name would've been somethin' odder. Can't say it's normal can I?" She says, snickering as she continued eating her side of the apple while offering him the unbitten piece. @Cecil

He didn't respond to her saying her name, looking off into the distance yet again, already bored of the situation. He was bored the vast majority of the time, honestly.. There was nothing to do if you weren't hunting mutants, and he didn't do that unless he absolutely had to. So his life was really goddamn boring. Glancing over, he shrugged and took the apple, biting into it. "I had to choose it myself. I don't remember anything from before I became a mutant, so it's not like I knew what my name was then." @Kars

"Sounds like you died and came back. That sort of thing if you ask me." She says, eating the rest of the apple before letting the core hit the floor. There's no trash can around, seems she doesn't really care. "If the infection takes over and you manage to come back, don't remember even how you look like. Shit like that.." Eventually they reached the shabby house. Something isn't right, uncomfortable and the stench is god awful. It's like burning, a burning carcass if anything. She cringes, inhaling the faint cologne of her bandana. "Smellin' like a raccoon that got run damn over. Jesus Christ.. Aye bucko! We got some cash to collect!" She yells, pounding on the door. No one answers. She looks over to Rylan. "Mind givin' me a hand, big fella?"

@Cecil

"Doesn't matter to me what happened then. All I care about is what I'm doing now." His past didn't bother him, since it couldn't shape him today. Can't be changed by memories and experiences that never existed in his mind. "And I managed to piece enough together to live, so who cares about anything else? I don't." Things were simpler that way, in his mind. The smell of the shack made his nose crinkle, but it wasn't anything unusual for him. Disgusting smells were common in this damn world. When nobody answered the woman pounding on the door, he sighed. "Out of the way." Walking forward, he slammed his foot into the door, nearly knocking it off its hinges. "Answer your damn door!" @Kars

The door swung open, and the sight to behold was something worse than anyone could’ve imagined. There was some sort of black tar that dripped from the ceiling and covered majority of the house. The air that came from inside was warm and humid, paired with the stench made Mariam gag and swing her head to the side to inhale the blissful scent of cologne rather than the death that came from inside. She decided she had to be a grown ass woman, turning back to the house and cautiously stepping inside. She looks around, and her eyes widened at what she nearly stepped on. It’s a corpse, covered in the thick goo and looking as if he had been killed in a way of their soul having left. Mouth agape, eyes rolled back, the whole nine yards. The house itself was rotten and gross, the corpse and the tar everywhere didn’t make it any better. “..What the hell happened here?” She mumbled, more to herself as she stepped inside further and nudged at the corpse. It doesn’t move luckily, meaning whomever it was, was long gone. “Mutants don’t suck people dry.. That I know of at least.” She said, turning back to Rylan. @Cecil

"..Somethin' tells me we're not getting paid." He mumbled as he looked through the doorway. "And I think it's a terrible idea to stick around. Whatever did this might still be in the area- Make sure you don't have any of the black gunk on you either, don't know if that'll lead whatever did this to them." He turned and began scanning the area around them, making sure that there was nothing around. "Damn mutants, giving the rest of us a bad name.." (edited)

“..It’s not mutant work.” She said, looking around again and nudging the corpse again. She eventually gets tired of kicking it and it not falling over, moving him onto his back and gasping at the sight. The man’s entire back is covered in the same substance and it’s moving. It wiggles around, though it doesn’t exactly direct itself to Mariam. It’s like a hive mind, the substance wiggling and twisting around like a fish out of water. “..That is really not a mutant. This thing got it’s own mind..” It seems that curiosity is getting the best of her, being now she’s completely mesmerized and spaced out as she looks at this thing. Not to mention mumbling to herself. But in a way of having conversation. She pauses and looks at him. “Well I don’t know about you but I want my damn payment. Check around for it. I ain’t leavin’ without it. Check rooms.” She said, stepping away from the corpse and walking further into the house. @Cecil

Letting out a sigh, he turned to look at what she was looking at. "..Looks pretty damn mutated to me." Whatever. It didn't matter exactly what it was, as long as it didn't fuckin' touch him. Slowly, and carefully, he began walking to various rooms and kicking doors down. The person who owned the house was dead, and whatever the fact this black substances that apparently 'had its own mind' was covering just about everything, so who cared if some doors got broken. All he wanted to do is find the money and get the fuck out of here. @Kars

“Don’t be big and loud! It ain’t interested in either of us!” Mariam shouted from across the house, though it seemed she found something other than money that was of value. It’s some sort of office, neatly organized and only a tiny bit of the tar substance. She steps forward, looking down at the computer and other various electronics that no person would be seeing normally in the area they lived. For some reason this felt familiar to her, something was odd. She opened a drawer, eyebrows raising at the coin she found. Twice the amount. Meaning double for the both of them. But this computer thing was too odd not to ignore. She pressed a button, and it lit up in a giant hologram screen. “..Rylan! You need to come take a look at this thing!” @Cecil

It didn't matter whether or not it was interested in him or not, he didn't like the look of it at all, so he wanted to get out of here as soon as possible. Black tar wasn't anything he had to deal with the vast majority of the time, and he didn't want to change that. When she called out to him, he walked to the room, hands in his pockets. "The hell you want? I'm trying to find the money you want me to." Letting out a sigh, he saw the computer and the holograms and shit and just rolled his eyes. "Great, did we stumble into some mad scientist's home or something? Don't tell me that we're going to be stuck dealing with all this.." @Kars

“Well I want cash and I’m the curious cat, big fella..” She said, looking it over. It looked so familiar, so strange. She tilted her head, pressing a button and it seemed a hologram of someone came up. A small screen with someone looking horrendously panicked. ”Jeffery you won’t fucking believe it they fucking.. Shit. I don’t have a lot of time. Listen, Adams caught wind of the project. I don’t know what he did but he did something and now these things are running around and-“ There’s a pause as someone or something pounds on the door, a low moan coming outward as it came back to the man. He’s sweating, crying. “I don’t know what he has but whatever he made is coming. Project Uni and project Oan escaped. They want Brunos, they looking for hosts. You need to get out of- OH MY GOD!” And like that the hologram ends. “..More cash?” She questions.

@Cecil

He wasn't especially curious about anything. Stability was easy to maintain when you didn't go poking your head into things you shouldn't be, but now he didn't seem to have much of a choice. Rylan was being dragged into something much bigger than him, and he hated it. "..Whatever was on the other side of that door's what killed that guy and covered the place in tar. Some kind of parasite, if I had to guess.." Letting out a sigh, he shook his head, glancing back at the door. "It said that it's looking for hosts, looking for some 'Brunos'.. Dammit, why'd you have to get us involved? That damn corpse better not be moving by the time we get out of here.." @Kars

Mariam is quiet for a long time as she stares st the static on the screen. She recognizes it, and it’s not giving her a good feeling. She’s trying to keep up the happy facade, but she rather be finding out what’s wrong and not do it alone for once. She looks over. “Well it seems like the cat tore up the bag, big fella. I found twice the amount we were promised..” She clicks something else and another thing pops up. It’s a bounty with the words on front. RONNIE ADAMS, 45, WANTED 2,000,000 REWARD. “Two fuckin million.. That’ll be enough to get out of the city and do all sorts of shit..” @Cecil

It wasn't even like he'd done anything for any money, but he'd take it, why not? Pocketing the cash, he turned to look at the screen. "Two million. Whoever has a bounty of two goddamn million is either the most twisted man in the world, or someone who's killed a lot of people. Maybe both." Letting out a sigh, he looked over at her. "..Don't tell me you're planning on going after him." @Kars

She looked right back at him, with her eyebrows raised and tilting her head. "..It's scary how you read my mind." She says, fixing the gun strap on her chest and looking back down at the document and then at the tar and other things in the room. There's files everywhere, all about. She turns, picking up a file and opening it. She examines it for a moment before putting it in her coat and turning back to him. "One million for the both of us, big fella. You in? Or you out?' @Cecil

It was really easy to see exactly what was going through her mind, since it went through everyone's mind when it came to that large of a sum. That didn't stop him from being cautious about it, though. "If this bounty's on this computer, don't you think it's directly tied to the thing that killed the dude out there? Whatever came after him would likely come after whoever this dude is. You got a death wish or something?" Letting out a sigh, he shook his head. A million was a lot. A lot. And as much as he was saying that she had a death wish, it was enough to convince him. "..Fine. But the moment shit starts going south, I'm out. Got it?" @Kars

“Death wishes are only that if you aren’t careful, big fella. But this is a shit ton of cash. More than what we have here. If you give me a couple of minutes with the computer I can start lookin’ for something bout’ his whereabouts.” She said, though she seemed pleased that he agreed to come along with her. Sure, it’s not the most comfortable with a mutant that seems relatively capable of killing her and other mutants twice the size of her, but she’s a hunter for a reason. She nods, typing around for a bit. “Says something about the latest city being under construction and on quarantine.. Think that’s where he is. Somethin’ about a project anyway.” She says, looking over. “It’s a day by motorbike with an inn in between. Fine with you?” @Cecil

He sighed yet again and leaned on the wall, waiting for her to go through whatever was on the computer. He was by far not a tech guy, with very little interest in computers or anything of the sort, so he was fine with letting her just do whatever. "If you've got a motorbike big enough for someone like me, so be it. Better to get this out of the way as soon as possible, before whatever causes this tar finds us." @Kars

“You sound a bit paranoid if you askin’ me. I mean come on you’re three times my size and afraid of a little bit of tar?” But regardless of her words she takes notes of what she looked at and turns back back to him, crossing her arms as if she’s scolding him. Her eyebrows are raised, and she calmly moves past him and makes her way to the corpse again. What she didn’t tell him was that this no doubt was freaking her out. Not because of the tar really, but because she knew this company. Her mother had worked for them, and her sister had taken it upon herself to do so aswell once she had gotten old enough. That’s where the problem started. She only knew a bit. Work always secretive, but she knew enough that they worked with things that weren’t human. She felt warm with a sense of worry, sweat gathering at the back of her neck and her temples. Most likely she wasn’t doing this for money. She was doing this out of being scared shitless. “Cmon big fella! Gotta get to the garage and it’s a bit of a walk!” She yelled, crouching down and slowly taking the ID badge for the company off of this man’s corpse. She scans it over and tucks it away before standing. @Cecil

"Maybe because when i'm not using my powers I know not to fuck with shit like this? Whatever made this damned tar is clearly a bigger, scarier threat than anything I've dealt with in the past, and I don't have a death wish." Letting out a sigh, however, he moved to follow, grumbling to himself. All of this smelled foul to him, and not because of the tar. Rylan made it a point to stay out of other people's business, but it seemed that he wasn't getting much of a choice in the matter. Not with that much money on the line. Quietly, he followed her as she picked up the man's ID- Something that disgusted him, thanks to the tar covering the man, but he didn't voice his complaint. "How far of a walk are we talkin'?" @Kars

“Twenty. It’s up the hill at my place. I got an old garage full of shit.” She says, and the out door she went to wait. The walk isn’t really full of conversation. If anything, Mariam is seemingly concentrated on the idea of getting to her home and getting on with what they decided. The bad thoughts lingered in the back of her mind and the slightest bit of common sense did aswell. She was having a complete stranger come along with her all the way out the city for a million. A whole million. He could kill her if he wanted though she probably won’t go down without a fight. Noticing she’s looking at him she looks away, back straight ahead as they came upon a dusty hill. Like most houses it’s a bit run down, rusted wind charm blowing with the breeze and sticking to the metal porch door. She swung it open, opening the normal door behind it before making her way inside. “Get some water if you need it. Got to grab a few things before I head out to the garage.” She walked inside and off to a room. Shockingly enough it’s mostly clean. An old tv, a couch, and probably in another room is her bed. On the coffee table and by the tv there’s a couple of photographs. Some of a young man who looked somewhat like the ginger, in between a younger small girl and two grown ups behind them. It’s odd. There doesn’t seem to be any pictures of what she really looks like beneath the bandana and her hat entirely. @Cecil

While they walked, he was sizing her up. A million was a lot of money, and he believed whole-heartedly that she was just trying to use him to get the million, and then she'd try to kill him to take his million for herself. Not that she'd be able to take him down easily. His body could quickly regenerate and eject the bullets from his system, so at least he wouldn't bleed to death. His natural weapons gave him an edge, at least for what she's shown so far.. Though she was a mutant. Who knew what powers she had. Rylan frowned as he looked around the building. His body was far more dead than most mutants he met, since he didn't need to eat or drink anything- Likely a result of his specific mutation. Any kind of repairing of his body came from absorbing and consuming organic tissue.. Crouching down, he inspected the pictures. Rylan wasn't nosey by nature, but he had nothing better to do, so nosey he'd be. @Kars

Theres plenty but not too much, pictures taped around or in picture frames all showing near the same thing. A family, a life before everything went to hell. There also were many envelopes and letters on the dining room table nearby. Some opened, some not, but they all seemed to have the same address in return. Mariam’s footsteps came from the room and this time, holding a lovely and much more nicely crafted revolver and also holding some sort of case with her. It clearly has something on the inside, and she lays it on her little dining table and opens it before looking at him inspecting the other things around. “A bit nosy aren’t ya?” She’s joking, though she did feel a bit nervous at him looking over the things related to her past. She hated those photos of herself, no denying that, but family photos were so hard to come by now as long as they were in tact and showed the people she loved most, then she’d be fine with them there. When opening the case it’s a beautiful hand crafted and well put together shotgun. One clearly used for only special occasions and perhaps special missions as it had been barely used and was very clean. “You sure you don’t want a gun or somethin’?” @Cecil

"Not like I've got anything better to do.." He mumbled, leaning on one of the walls as she brought out a case, containing a shotgun from the looks of it. If she was bringing that out, then clearly she understood that there was a lot on the line. Which was.. good. At least she wasn't going into this unprepared. "I don't use guns. Too much to worry about, carrying the weapon and the ammo and all that, trying not to lose it as a result of activating my powers.." Rylan shook his head. No, he had no interest in carrying a firearm. Not when it wouldn't see any use once his powers took over, since he lost all form of self-preservation. He'd simply rush in, tearing whatever was in front of him to shreds, and then regenerated with whatever was left over. @Kars

“Listen if I was home a lot more maybe then I would have somethin’. Usually stay at the inn’s around the different areas cause home is usually far. Think the only real entertainment I got is work and some books about military.” She said, taking the shot gun from its wonderful casing and and then opening a pocket below it. It’s full of shells and she loads it, snapping it back and stuffing the rest into her coat. She was tired, and nervous. Though she hopped her heart didn’t beat too loud for this poor fella next to her to hear. Not scared for herself, not scared of him, but ultimately terrified at what she would find. That ID badge was the same company and she assumed same department, and god help her if someone put their hands on her family. She looked over. “I only use guns cause I don’t want people freakin’ out if I try to help. Guns apparently make them feel safe against mutants. Find it kind of funny they can be scared of them but someone with a gun is their savior.” @Cecil

The man shrugged. His life was really quite boring, all things considered, with little to break up the monotony. Alcohol did little for him. He didn't seek out women for entertainment. Fighting brought nothing to him, since he tended to lose himself in battle.. The only reason he was still out here was because he was a mutant, and mutants weren't able to leave the West in his experience. He could see that she was really fuckin' nervous. Of what exactly, he didn't know for sure. It could very easily be her nervous that he'd figure out that she intended to betray him for the money. Or she could be nervous about whatever made the tar. In the end, he doubted it would change very much. "I don't need to use my powers to fight. I'm still incredibly physically strong without my powers." It was just a fact with his body. Yeah, it was far more dead, but it was far stronger because of it. He didn't feel pain, and his body could shift his muscles around to make him so much stronger. "..So where exactly are we headed?" @Kars

“Outward. We’ll probably be stuck at an inn for a night and if possible we can squeeze some information out of people there. They’ll know if there’s any rumors about the guy or if anything bad has happened in the next town over. Where we’re heading of course. And quite frankly I don’t need to use mine to fight either. But what’s my business ain’t anyone else’s.” She said, fixing her hat as she attached the weapon to the gun strap before turning and walking back to the room. Her gaze lingers on a letter on the dining room table and she picks it up, opening it. “Give me a minute if you can..” She turns away, opening the letter and reading over it. @Cecil

He wanted a name of a town. Maybe a specific direction. The vagueness was annoying, but he wasn't going to push on it. "Stay at an inn and shakedown people for info.. That's about all you're gonna give me.." Mumbling to himself, he crossed his arms. When she asked for a minute to read some letter, he just waved his hand to signal that she had whatever time she needed. Though.. "You're actin' way too nervous. Do you know something about what's going on?" @Kars

“Town is Underfour. Right by here by that motorbike. And no.. Not really. Well, kind of, but it ain’t somethin’ you need to worry about.” She said, frowning at the letter before tossing it on the table and turning. She moved past him, checking her straps and fixing her hat before walking back outside. She moved over to the garage next to the house, fingers prying under the metal before lifting it up and presenting the vehicle. It’s a relatively big motorbike, somewhat outdated, though it’s enough to do something with. She walks over to it, moving out the way of metal and grabbing her keys from hanging nearby. “Hope you got some life in you, darlin’..” @Cecil

He crossed his arms. "'Ain't something I need to worry about'? When it's related to that man, the tar, and this dude that's got a 2 million bounty on him?" Shaking his head, he stood his ground. "If you've got info, you're going to share. I'm not going to go on a suicide mission without knowing what the hell I'm dealing with." The vehicle was nice, though he wasn't sure entirely how it'd be able to handle both of them, since it was moderately outdated. @Kars

“If I knew, I’d be telling you. But even I don’t know what’s going on. What I can tell you is that this mission might get too personal for my own comfort.” She said, her keys going into the hole and turning. The engine spurred to life, and she got on. “You want to drive or you want me to? It’s simple, don’t know if it would be a better fit and so on.” Mariam can only assume what’s going on and with the clues she’s assuming the worst. She knew what that tar was, she’s seen it, hell, she had it in her own body. She sighed, wiping sweat from her forehead and putting some goggles on she had strapped to her hat. She tossed him another pair from nearby. She’s scared, and it’s for one thing. She’s hiding something, but she doesn’t look to be breaking. @Cecil

He let out another harsh sigh. He was getting dragged into her personal matters, from the looks of it, and he didn't have much of a say in the matter. Whatever, he already agreed to deal with this problem. "For the record, if you plan on trying to kill me at the end of this, I'm going to go down swinging. I don't like that you're hiding shit from me, but I can tell nothing that I say is going to get you to budge. You can drive." With another defeated sigh, he climbed onto the bike, putting the goggles on. @Kars

“If I wanted to have killed you I would’ve done it by now, Rylan. I’m up front, just not with stuff that doesn’t need to come up from the graves it was buried in.” She said, rolling her eyes as she shifted and started up the bike again. It spurred to life, dragging across the abandoned roads. She’s silent for a while, on the route to where she was going and trying her best not to think about it. She didn’t plan to kill him, she knew if she even tried it wouldn’t go as planned whatsoever. And she’d suffer more loss than she needed. The drive is then silent, only the rumble of the bike and the slight jumps in the road. At least she knows how to drive and actually do things. She wanted to ask a couple questions though she assumes that conversation about hiding stuff made him sour with the idea of this job and she didn’t want to make it any worse. She’s also a bit odd up closer too, sunburned, also has some sort of weird black veins in the back of her neck. There’s also brightly white hair beneath the regular ginger. @Cecil

"You would've tried.." He mumbled, shaking his head. His confidence, even while seemingly grumpy, was unmatched. During the entire ride, Rylan was silent, his eyes mostly focused on the wasteland around them. The lack of transparency on matters involving this job and what she knew about it annoyed him quite a bit, since it was clear to him that whatever was going on here was far beyond anything he had ever cared to touch. Oh well. At least things wouldn't be boring. @Kars

The drive to the in between took a while, at least a couple of hours judging by the way Mariam is all humming and doing things along the way. She forgot how long it had been since she had driven and nonetheless with some company. Weeks, months, something of that number. As they get closer to the in between it seems that this place is more populated than the west. There’s worried faces as they approach and Mariam parks the motorbike. She leaves something attached to it, stepping off and withdrawing her goggles and tossing them into the small bag she had brought with her. People seem panicked, eyes wavering over the two as hushed whispers make their way around. She motions for him to follow, stepping into the inn. “By the way, let me do the talking. I know people here and they’re mildly assholes, just.. Ignore what they say and let me talk.” She said, pushing open the doors to the saloon and making her way to the counter. @Cecil

The long, quiet drive was ungodly boring. She didn't seem to want to talk, and he was by far not the most talkative person out there. That meant he was just.. staring off into the distance the entire time, his thoughts wandering from place to place. Then they arrived, and he could see how everyone looked at them like they were nothing more than bandits or drifters bringing trouble. Whatever, he was used to that. "No promises." He shook his head. If someone pissed him off, he'd make it known. But he followed behind Mariam silently. @Kars

The inn is actually quite populated for the most part, people having drinks and conversations all around. She paused, looking around the bar and trying to spot someone. She put two fingers on the inside part of her mouth, blowing a high pitched whistle that seems to grab the attention of the person behind the counter. It’s another woman, shorter than Mariam and with blonde hair and a mask over her face. Her eyebrows raise when she notices Mariam and the looming figure of Rylan behind her before she comes up and slams an empty pint glass down. “I’ll pay my tab-“ “Tabs already paid, Sofron.” “..Thanks. Listen I need a favor-“ “What’s it now? I ain’t fighting Harold again-“ “I didn’t ask you to do so. That was your decision. Listen we got a problem and the reward is a shit ton of cash..” The woman behind the bar looked Rylan up and down before looking at Mariam. “I really hope this ain’t a new one.” “Gaila! No! Jesus Christ you act like I’m a fuckin’ whore. Listen.. It involves Bea.” The woman’s attention strays from Rylan before looking at Mariam. Slightly worried. “..Whats happening-“ Only, their conversation is cut short by someone who reeks of alcohol and ultimately bad decisions. The man now stumbling toward Mariam is a bit scrawny and only a bit taller, slumping his body against her. “Heyyyyy ginger.” “Carlos-“ “Cmon.. Been too long since I see you yeah?” @Cecil

He remained silent, with arms crossed, as she started to talk to the bartender about things relating to the job. The name 'Bea' meant that this really was something that was related to her personal life. Great, he was just solving family drama or some shit.. Though this was by far the strangest family drama he'd ever experienced. At her comment about him being a 'new one', he just scoffed and rolled his eyes, eyes quickly looking around as a drunken man approached, leaning- or more slumping- against Mariam. He let out a sigh, looking the drunk over. "Fuck off, man. She's busy." @Kars

“Carlos can you fuck off?! It was one time. One fucking time and never again-“ “Oh come onnnnn, ginger! Actin’ like it wasn’t shit to you.” “Cause it wasn’t.” “Yes it was!” “I rather shoot myself in the foot twelve times.” Mariam is getting annoyed and it’s clear by the way she’s shoving him off and trying to continue her conversation. Though when Carlos hears Rylan speak he turns to him, in the midst of drunken haze he doesn’t look intimidated as he walks up and jabs his finger into Rylan’s chest. “I don’t know what kind of fuckin’ fool you are, aye?! That there little ginger I gave her the best night of her life!” “No you didn’t!” “Shut up, bitch! Speak when spoken to!” He turned back to Rylan. He’s slurring his words. “Now why don’t you back up and sit the fuck down.” Carlos is scrawny with maybe a pinch of muscle, sick on the side of his mouth and practically wavering in place. @Cecil

The way this Carlos spoke was.. ungodly annoying. There was a certain tone of his voice that made it sound like he believed he deserved something in his life without working for it. "You wouldn't be able to give anyone any kind of night. Hell, you'd throw up before even making it to the bedroom." The man chuckled a bit before getting serious again. "You have three seconds to fuck off before you end up with something broken." He scowled down at Carlos, one of his hands curling into a fist as he counted down in his head. He was serious about hurting this dumbass Carlos man if he didn't back off. @Kars

“Rylan don’t-“‘ “Oh yeah?! I can still fucking fight you and best you in the god damn process!” “Aw shit..” The bar becomes a bit quiet as others turn their at mention to the potential fight. They talk amongst themselves giggling with one another as they marvel at this drunk man fighting a sober man who’s clearly aggressive and more than half his size. Mariam sits at the counter, looking between them and Gailaneth as if asking what to do. She goes to stand, only Carlos moves before she can. He turns around once he hears her stand and punches her in the face. She stumbles back, holding her nose as black blood slips between her fingers. @Cecil

In one swift move, Rylan lifted Carlos off of his feet by the back of his shirt, only to slam him into the ground with such force that the floor splintered underneath the weight of Carlos and his strength combined. Then again. And then finally he picked him up and threw him across the room to the door, letting whatever else happen. Rylan slowly turned back to the other two. "There, now that he's been dealt with, continue." @Kars

Its safe to say that Carlos is relatively knocked the fuck out and Mariam is thoroughly impressed. She shifts a bit, taking cloth from Gailaneth that she was handed to wipe her nose. There’s still black streaming but since everyone is paying attention to Rylan she can wipe her nose in peace. She grabs the front and twists, biting down on her tongue to silence herself out of the pain and plug her nose for the time being. “You really should’ve banned him.” “Blame Carl for that. Mariam sighed, looking over at Rylan. “Thanks, big fella. Listen, have you heard anything from Bea or Harold?” “No. Last I saw Bea she was sweating bullets and kept saying your dad was sick as a dog. Said he kept talking to himself.” The news definitely disturbs her by the way she looks worried. She shifts uncomfortable before pulling out a small badge, it’s the badge from before and sliding it over. “Lookin’ for a guy. Name is Ronnie Adams. He’s-“ “The head of her company. I use to be his fling when I worked as a secretary. Douchebag. I haven’t seen him in a while.. Best I can bet is in the city over. He wanted?” “I’ll pay my tabs for twenty years and then some is how much we talkin’.” Gailaneth nods slowly and sighs. “Fine. You can stay the night. Just.. Get your nose cleaned up.” She slides Mariam a key and goes back to tending the bar. Mariam motions for Rylan to follow upstairs. @Cecil

All the names being listed, with no possibility of him being put in the loop at all, made him feel like nothing more than some mercenary being hired to kill someone and 'not ask questions'. That fact alone pissed him off, since he actively tried to avoid being a bounty hunter when possible. It was too much of a pain to hunt people down, kill them, and bring their body back to get paid. Gruesome business, but not his business. Leaning over to Gailaneth, he pulled his flask out of his jacket and held it over. "Mind toppin' me off since I got rid of that asshole? Make it spicy, I don't feel it otherwise." If she wanted payment, he'd produce whatever money she wanted. Then he turned to follow after Mariam, taking a swig out of the flask as he moved. "..There better be two beds in here.." He mumbled under his breath, not really one to share his bed with anyone. @Kars

Gailaneth’s eyebrows raised up slightly, impressed by the strength and request as she did as good and sent the two on their way up. “There is. I ain’t personal with you enough to have less space, big fella.” She said, sounding somewhat nasally as she opened the door and walked through. Her nose is still bleeding, pigmented black blood that streamed and stained some of her face as she quietly went and sat on the one next to the window, hand clasping over her nose to try and stop it. “Fuckin’ hell.. Got me fuckin’ good. Thanks for having my ass there a bit. He’s one of the few reasons I don’t come down by here. Place is running with filth and too crowded for my liking.” In truth Carlos was one of the few main reasons, but with home in her mind she wanted nowhere near it. No reason to be close to it anyway, she was barely home no matter what she did to begin with. “Also, sorry bout’ it. I’ll give you some of the money when we eventually get it. I’m just hop in’ he’s not a huge pain in the ass.” @Cecil

"Good." He replied gruffly, walking over to his bed and kicked off his boots, before laying down on the bed and closing his eyes. "Assholes like him deserve to get their shit kicked in. Especially when they pick a fight with someone far larger than them." He didn't seem all that bothered by that Carlos guy, but he still seemed annoyed. "You keep sayin' all these names to people, but refuse to explain them to me. What exactly are we getting ourselves into?" His eyes opened and he looked over to her. "I'm tired of feeling like i'm getting dragged around to be some muscle. Fill me in on what we're supposed to be dealing with so I don't get blindsided, dammit." @Kars

Mariam eventually looked over at him, placing her bandana and her down on the bed next to her. Her face is much more visible now, freckled and sunburned before she thinks about what she’ll say to him. She doesn’t like getting personal with others or just personal in general. She’s quiet for a moment, gaze kind of cloudy before she speaks. “I’ll try to keep it as simple as possible. When we went into that house and got the bounty on that guy.. He works for the exact same company my sister works for. I didn’t exactly open the letters because half the time it was about my father and.. When I opened the one at the house, I can only assume the worst happened but what she said in that thing didn’t make no sense.” She paused for a moment. “My father grew ill and Beatrice, my sister, is the only one taking care of him. But she told me in that letter I opened that he was coughing up black sap substance.. Something like we saw at the house. If anything I’ll take on whatever I find but we’re going to the same city where they are..” She sniffled to try and check for more blood coming down from her nose. It seemed to be drawing blood now. “And if what I’ve seen or heard is connected.. It’s worse than either of us want it to be.” @Cecil

He didn't have any family, at least family that he remembered, so he couldn't possibly fully understand what she was dealing with. Generally, he kept people at arm's length, since it kept life simple. With a quiet huff, he shook his head. "..So let me get this straight. We're hunting down a nutcase who potentially is in a terrible damn situation because your father's coughing up the same tar stuff that covered just about every surface in that house?" He pinched the bridge of his nose for a second before standing up and beginning to pace the room. "..Well, it better not be in the middle of that damn city, because if what I'm thinking is true, I'm not gonna have any damn choice but to use my powers if that monster comes after us." That fact alone was annoying, because while he enjoyed the feeling that came with unleashing his power- It always felt liberating to do, after all- He knew that it would put her in danger, because he had trouble controlling himself when they were active. He was a monster, through and through, and would run wild if given the chance. "Do you at least know what the company does?" @Kars

"That's the thing.. I don't. All I know is that it was messing with Biology and in the worst ways humanly possible. Now that I see that and shit.." She said, tilting her head back and with a sickening crack she finally fixed her nose. Seems it was just out of place. She sighed, wiping whatever was left before standing from her bed and walking into the restroom. "But if this guy is wanted for that much, then I don't think he'd be dumb enough to get out there and be so intent on showing him. It would be a death wish on anyone. Mutant or not. We're infected, not immortal." After cleaning up her face stained with black substance, now clean, she came back into the room. "Worst comes to worse, then it means both are infected. If anything, you leave that killin' part to me plain and damn simple.. We agreeing?" She asked, turning around and sticking out her gloved hand. @Cecil

He shook his head outright at that. First she wanted to drag him on some chase after a guy who worked for some fucked up company that was probably run by mad scientists based on the description she had given him, and then she wanted him to stay out of the fighting? Fuck no. "No, we aren't agreeing it. Why the hell would you want me to come along if not for me to fight? What, am I supposed to just sit back and watch as you take on whatever fucked up shit's at that company? There's ways to make a living that are far less boring than sitting around doing nothing. And even then, like you said, going there alone's a fuckin' death wish. I can't get the money you so clearly want to give me if you get killed, now can I?" "If we're going to do this, we're going to both be fighting, because whatever killed that guy? Probably too damn strong for one person to take on alone, no matter how fuckin' strong they are." @Kars

"It isn't that I ain't wantin' you to fight. I'm getting you a way out.. That's why I warned you. It's money, it's a lot, but someone that high did something so much more worse." She said, crossing her arms over her chest and tilting her head to the side. She inhales, then exhales. At least the damn nose is fixed. She thought about it for a moment, looking over at the window and then at Rylan again. "If you're comin' with me, big fella.. There isn't exactly a turn around for the things that aren't reversable. We gettin' into some deep shit. It's either you're in, or you're out." Again she stuck out her gloved hand, eyebrows raised as she held it out. "This is your decision." @Cecil

"..I don't think you've really come to understand me." He mumbled, crossing his arms as he leaned on the wall. "I've got nothin' better to do. I don't have a better life to go back to, because of what I am. If I die, I die, so be it. Better to go out with a fight than be stuck living a boring ass life with nothing to do." He paused for a moment. "Besides, if this whole thing brings something interesting, even if it's really fucked up, it's not gonna be boring. The worst thing life can be is boring." That's exactly what his life had been up to this point, and maybe it was because he hadn't gone out of his way to find those things. He'd allowed himself to coast along through life.. Maybe it was time for that to change. "..Ah, what the hell. I'm in." He grabbed her hand and shook it. @Kars

She released a soft chuckle as she shook his hand and then withdrew it. “Then get some rest. We have a long way to go and I don’t think we’re exactly on the good side of most here. Best we leave as soon as we can tomorrow.” She says, placing her hat on the dresser nearby and making her way to the restroom. “I’ll be awake for a bit. Just try to get some sleep and uh.. Yeah.” With that she closed the door behind her to the restroom, the shower turned on and it seemed she was going to cleanse herself of the dirt and grime from earlier. It wasn’t often she got a shower, even if it was a tad bit cold she appreciated even having one. She leaned her head down, head in thought. She wondered what Beatrice meant by talking to himself. Was this the worst she feared? She wiped the water from her face. Talking to himself, talking as if he was talking to a small child and coughing up sap. ..You there? “Always have been. You would’ve died if I hadn’t.” ..Good to know. “Is this about your father?” A bit. Shit, it is. Do you.. Have any idea? “The other ones don’t talk. They snarl, they growl, they don’t talk… You can go mad. But even then they would’ve been dead. If your father is doing that.. it means it’s either an offspring or something else.” Meaning we’ll have to see? “Correct.” ..Thanks. Mariam stepped from the shower, toweling herself off and staring at the mirror for a while. She looks at the black veins along her neck and shoulders, tracing them. “We’ll see..” She came out, dressing in the bathroom before going back to her bed and getting beneath the covers. @Cecil

The man just nodded and laid down in his bed, staring at the wall with his back turned to the rest of the room. What had he gotten himself into? He wasn't particularly a merc, moreso just coasting through life and taking whatever came his way. That's how he ended up claiming the bounty on that barmaid. And now he was getting dragged into dealing with a fucked up company man and family drama from this random woman he met. It wouldn't be boring, he supposed, but he didn't understand fully how he got dragged into this. But it didn't matter now, whenever they were to get going to the next city, hopefully without any more trouble. Letting out a sigh, he slowly drifted off to sleep. @Kars

Mariam opened her eyes to the morning light, grumbling curses to herself as she turned over in her bed. She didn't want to get up, didn't want to do things after spending so long without sleep in an actual bed and warm covers. She stared at the ceiling for a while, and she wondered if she should actually go through with this. Take a total stranger on for some journey to investigate her family and get a bounty on a crazed scientist. She sat up slowly, brushing her hair to the side and glancing around the room. She spots Rylan and shakes her head, withdrawing herself from her bed and grabbing her trusty trenchcoat and her hat. She wasn't going to wake him up, not yet at least. She placed her had and trenchcoat on, looking over one more time before down the steps and down to the bar. It was like Gailaneth had never left since the night before. "You're up early." "Always have.." "Mm. You got Carlos's uh.. Corpse.. Out?" Gailaneth went silent for a moment before looking over.

17:05

"He never came back. They said something happened in the ambulance and he's.. Gone, oddly enough." Mariam raised a brow. "You saying he's dead?" "..Black tar. All over the carrier thing to take him out." "..Mutants?' "I can only assume so.." Mariam felt the bit of shame, perhaps guilt that she may or may not have assisted in accidentally getting him killed. Though she released a heavy sigh. She looked over at Gailaneth. "Shit well I uh.. I'm going out for a smoke, if big fella wakes up. Just tell him I'm outside." With a short nod to her Mariam walked out the door, withdrawing a crumpled pack of cigarettes and lighting one. The sun wasn't exactly all the way up though it was bright enough to know it was morning. She paused when blowing out the smoke, and it seemed her stomach twisted. Something felt.. Wrong. The slapping of flesh and something.. Puking? She moved slowly around the building, because curiosity was surely killing the cat. She turned, looking down at the hunched over figure that's snapping bones like twigs and tar spilling from his lips. "..Carlos?" She questioned. Though all the else came was a horrified yell. "OH SHIT!" @Cecil

The man's sleep was dark and empty. He hadn't dreamed about anything for as long as he could remember.. It was all an empty expanse of blackness that he stared into. To say sleep wasn't particularly restful was an understatement.. It barely felt like he slept at all, really. His 'sleep' was interrupted by the sound of screams downstairs, causing him to surge out of bed and run downstairs, prepared for total chaos out there as his eyes snapped around. When nothing was immediately apparent, he looked towards Gailaneth. "..The hell's going on? Who's screaming?" @Kars

Gailaneth had been in the midst of grabbing a shotgun from the closet when she heard Rylan come down and looked over at him. "Don't know but it sounded like Mariam-" "JESUS FUCKIN' CHRIST!' "..That answers the question." The bite marks from his capturer were clear as day upon his neck, though the rotting of his flesh had already begun in a quick and brutal manner. His skin was pale and a slight tinge of purple, deep bruises and prominent black veins that were now flexing through his skin. He's a bit larger than he was when they had an altercation last night, now going from a somewhat scrawny 5'11 man to a now weirdly bulky and seemingly blood thirsty creature. He stepped forward, mouth opening and releasing an animalistic shriek. By now Mariam has scrambled from the alleyway, grabbing her revolver and aiming. Firing a couple of shots it seems to make him stumble though remain forward. "Shit this ones.. He ain't goin' down!" She had to roll to avoid being hit by a now much larger fist. @Cecil

Great, whatever the fuck had happened to this guy, he was now much bigger, angrier, and willing to kill. For fuck's sake, he wanted a somewhat normal day, but apparently life had other plans. Quickly, Rylan closed the distance, his mutated body enhancing his physical capabilities as he jumped forward, going to tackle the infected monster, ready to land a series of punches directly to the face. Was that going to go great? Oh, absolutely not, of that he was sure. Did he have much of a choice? Fuck no. It was just a matter of slamming his fist into this thing's face repeatedly. Over and over. @Kars